The_Essential_Manager_s_Handbook

322 / PLANNING TO PRESENT

Holding the audience

Identifying the need

A presentation serves a very different

purpose from a written report—it is far

more than just another vehicle for

information. A presentation allows an

audience to gain knowledge by watching,

listening, and being inspired by you.

Audiences come not to learn everything

you know about a subject but to gain

your perspective—they are likely to

remember only the big themes even a

short time afterward. Good presenters

understand that audiences are looking

for information in context, not in full

detail, so ask yourself what you can add

through your presentation of the subject.

Researching the audience

Get to know your audience, even before

you plan your presentation. Talk to

the organizer of the event about their

expectations, and if possible, engage

with those attending ahead of time;

ask them about their existing level of

knowledge, and what they hope to hear

about. Work out if they need persuading,

informing, educating, motivating, or a

mixture of all these. The more you

understand your audience’s expectations,

the better you’ll be able to meet them.

Presenting successfully means stepping back from your own knowledge

of your subject. Examine what you want to say and how you convey that

information from the perspective of the audience. Their priorities will

almost always be different from yours.

MIND YOUR LANGUAGE

Check the language abilities

of your audience—if you

do not share the same first

language, you will need to

make allowances.

Tip

Audiences are likely

to remember only the

big themes even a

short time afterward

US_322-323_Putting_audience_first.indd 322 30/05/16 3:05 pm